Lavandula plant named ‘Anouk Deluxe 1939’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Lavandula plant named ‘Anouk Deluxe 1939’, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; dark violet-colored flowers and bright purple-colored terminal flower bracts positioned on strong and erect peduncles; long flowering period; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Lavandula stoechas.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ANOUK DELUXE 1939’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY APPLICANT

An European Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant on Jun. 30, 2022, application number 2022/1630. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Lavandula plant, botanically known as Lavandula stoechas, commonly referred to as Lavender and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Anouk Deluxe 1939’.

The new Lavandula plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new unique Lavandula plants with good performance and attractive plant fotm and flower coloration.

The new Lavandula plant originated from a cross-pollination in May, 2018 of Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk Deluxe 169’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,851, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Lavandula stoechas identified as code number 1803, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Lavandula plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands in July, 2019.

Asexual reproduction of the new Lavandula plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands since September, 2019 has shown that the unique features of this new Lavandula plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lavandula have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the new Lavandula plant. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Anouk Deluxe 1939’ as a new and distinct Lavandula plant:

-   -   1. Compact and upright plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching growth habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Dark violet-colored flowers and bright purple-colored         terminal flower bracts positioned on strong and erect peduncles.     -   5. Long flowering period.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Anouk Deluxe 169’, primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula have more terminal flower bracts         than plants of ‘Anouk Deluxe 169’.     -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula have bright purple-colored         terminal flower bracts whereas plants of ‘Anouk Deluxe 169’ have         red purple to purple-colored tetminal flower bracts.     -   3. Plants of the new Lavandula will rebloom whereas plants of         ‘Anouk Deluxe 169’ rarely rebloom.

Plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are more upright than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula have more terminal flower bracts         than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Lavandula can be compared to plants of the Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,685. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of ‘Anouk’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are more compact and more upright         than plants of ‘Anouk’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Lavandula are broader and more         greyish green in color than leaves of plants of ‘Anouk’.     -   3. Plants of the new Lavandula have more terminal flower bracts         than plants of ‘Anouk’.     -   4. Plants of the new Lavandula have darker and brighter         purple-colored terminal flower bracts than plants of ‘Anouk’.     -   5. Plants of the new Lavandula will rebloom whereas plants of         ‘Anouk Deluxe’ rarely rebloom.

Plants of the new Lavandula can also be compared to plants of the Lavandula stoechas ‘Toscane’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,046. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of ‘Toscane’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are more compact and more upright         than plants of ‘Toscane’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Lavandula are broader and more         greyish green in color than leaves of plants of ‘Toscane’.     -   3. Plants of the new Lavandula have more terminal flower bracts         than plants of ‘Toscane’.     -   4. Plants of the new Lavandula have darker and brighter         purple-colored terminal flower bracts than plants of ‘Toscane’.     -   5. Plants of the new Lavandula will rebloom whereas plants of         ‘Toscane’ rarely rebloom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Lavandula plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Lavandula plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Anouk Deluxe 1939’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Anouk Deluxe 1939’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and following detailed description were grown in 12-cm containers during the spring in an outdoor nursery in Boskoop, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Lavandula production. Plants were pinched one time and were nine months old when the photographs and description were taken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 10C to 30C and night temperatures ranged from 5C to 20C. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general tetins of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk Deluxe 1939’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk Deluxe             169’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,851.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Lavandula             stoechas identified as code number 1803, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About ten days at             temperatures about 18C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 60 days             at temperatures about 20C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 70 days             at temperatures about 20C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; initially white in color             and becoming more brown with development; actual color of             the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water             quality, fertilizer type and fottnulation.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; compact and             upright plant habit; narrowly obovate in overall plant             shape; freely branching habit; moderately vigorous growth             habit; oderate growth rate; flowers arranged in             verticillasters on crowded spikes with showy terminal flower             bracts.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 16.2             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 23.1             cm.         -   Plant width.—About 20 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Quantity per plant: About eight             primary lateral branches each with about four secondary             lateral branches developing per plant; pinching enhances             branching potential. Length: About 7.7 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Internode length: About 1.4 cm. Strength: Moderately             strong. Aspect: Primary lateral branches, upright to about             40 degrees from vertical; secondary lateral branches, about             35 degrees from primary lateral branch axis. Texture and             luster: Densely tomentose; slightly glossy. Color, when             developing: Close to 145B. Color, developed: Close to 144B             and 145A; with development, close to 200D.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple; sessile.             Length: About 3.15 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Narrowly             oblanceolate to narrowly lanceolate and narrowly oblong.             Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire; moderately             revolute; not lobed. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Densely tomentose; not rugose; matte. Texture and luster,             lower surface: Densely tomentose; slightly rugose; matte.             Fragrance: Strongly aromatic, pungent. Venation pattern:             Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to             138A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137D; venation,             close to 146D. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 147C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type, arrangement and habit.—Small single salverform             flowers arranged in compact verticillasters on crowded             terminal spikes; freely flowering, about 150 flowers             developing per inflorescence and about 5,200 flowers             developing per plant; flowers with two-lobed upper lip and             three-lobed lower lip; flowers face mostly outwardly on the             spike; inflorescences with showy terminal flower bracts.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; continuous             from late spring into the summer in The Netherlands; plants             reblooming for about ten weeks.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Individual flowers last about             four weeks on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Shape: Oblong. Texture and luster: Densely tomentose; matte.             Color: Close to 145C; distally, close to 146B tinged with             close to N186B and at the apex, close to N77B.         -   Inflorescence size.—Height, including terminal flower             bracts: About 5.8 cm. Height, excluding tetrminal flower             bracts: About 3.5 cm. Diameter, at tel flower bracts: About             3.1 cm. Diameter, below flower bracts: About 1.8 cm.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 3.5 mm by 3.5 mm. Depth             (height): About 9 mm. Throat diameter: About 1.25 mm. Tube             length: About 6 mm. Tube diameter: About 1 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Upper lip, two-lobed and             lower lip, three-lobed. Length, upper lip: About 3 mm.             Length, lower lip: About 2 mm. Width, upper lip: About 2 mm.             Width, lower lip: About 2 mm. Shape: Roughly spatulate;             lower 66% fused into a tube. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire;             moderately undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; not rugose; matte.             Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly velvety; not rugose; matte. Texture, throat:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety. Texture, tube: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Slightly darker than N92D; venation, slightly             darker than N92D; color becoming closer to N186B with             subsequent development. When opening and fully opened, lower             surface: Close to N92D; venation, close to N92D; color             becoming closer to N186B with subsequent development.             Throat: Close to between 90A and N92D; venation, close to             between 90A and N92D. Tube: Close to 86A fading proximally             to close to N155A; venation, close to 86A and N155A.         -   Terminal flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About             twelve positioned mostly upright at inflorescence apex.             Length: About 2.2 cm. Width: About 1.1 cm. Shape: Obovate to             narrowly obovate. Apex: Obtuse to bluntly acute. Base:             Acuminate. Margin: Entire; moderately and finely undulate.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely             tomentose; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to N81A to             N81B; midvein, close to 200B. Color, lower surface: Close to             N81A to N81B; midvein, close to N79B.         -   Basal flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: Each group of             seven flowers is subtended by a single basal flower bract.             Length: About 6 mm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Broadly             reniform. Apex: Abruptly acute. Base: Truncate. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately             tomentose; slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Moderately tomentose; matte. Color, upper surface:             Close to N79C; venation, close to 146Ad. Color, lower             surface: Close to N79C; venation, close to between N186A and             N200A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five, fused into a             campanulate tube. Calyx length: About 5.5 mm. Calyx             diameter: About 1.75 mm. Length: About 5.5 mm. Width: About             0.75 mm. Shape: Linear. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture             and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture             and luster, lower surface: Densely tomentose; slightly             glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 145C to             145D; distally, moderately tinged with close to N186B;             venation, close to 144B. When opening, lower surface: Close             to 145C; distally, close to 146B tinged with close to N186B             and at the apex, close to N77B. Fully opened, upper surface:             Close to 145C to 145D; distally, moderately tinged with             close to N186B; venation, close to 144B. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 145B; distally, close to 146B and at the             apex, close to N77B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Aspect: Mostly upright. Strength: Strong. Texture and             luster: Densely tomentose; matte. Color: Close to 143B and             151B and distally, tinged with close to N186C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Four.             Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to N87C.             Anther shape: Short oblong; dorsifixed. Anther size: About             0.75 mm by 0.75 mm. Anther color: Close to 161D. Pollen             amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 16B. Pistils:             Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 3.5 mm.             Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma diameter: About 0.5 mm.             Stigma color: Close to N186A. Style length: About 3.5 mm.             Style color: Close to NN155A and distally, close to 76A.             Ovary color: Close to 148A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not             been observed on plants of the new Lavandula. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Lavandula     have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Lavandula plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lavandula have exhibited good     tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate     temperatures from about 1C to about 40C and to be suitable for USDA     ardiness Zones 7 to 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lavandula plant named ‘Anouk Deluxe 1939’ as illustrated and described. 